Concealable blackboard



1961 L. G. VAILLANCOURT 2,971,277

CONCEALABLE BLACKBOARD Filed NOV. 16, 1959 fla [a w: GEORGES M /1. LA/VCOl/RT United States Patent G CONCEALABLE BLACKBOARD Louis Georges Vaillaneourt, Coleraine, Megantic County, Quebec, Canada Filed Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,226

3 Claims. (Cl. 35-62) The present invention relates to blackboards, more particularly for home use and which are concealable when not in service.

It is known that blackboards for children are usually mounted on a stand or simply suspended from a wall. Blackboards supported by a stand take substantial room and can easily be tipped over and are cumbersome in a home. Blackboards suspended from a wall do not appeal to the eye and must be stored away when not used. These two types of blackboards are no longer in accordance with modern home designs.

The main object of the present invention resides in the provision of a blackboard having means for converting the same into a decorative panel when the blackboard is not in use.

Yet another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a blackboard of the character described having means for collecting the chalk powder which falls from the blackboard when writing and to prevent said powder from falling down on the floor, such that the blackboard of the present invention is cleaner in use than conventional blackboards.

The foregoing objects and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blackboard in accordance with the present invention, the image being cut away to show the underlying blackboard writing surface;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the blackboard;

Figure 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial section along line 4-4 of Figure 1' and Figure 5 is a partial section along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the blackboard comprises a rectangular frame 1 having sides 2 and 3, a top member 4 and a bottom member 5. Preferably, the corners of the blackboard are rounded as shown at 6. A black panel 7 made of slate, black pressed wood or other material on which writing can be effected with chalk, is fixed in a conventional manner within the frame 1 at the forward portion of said frame, and adjacent to the inclined front faces 8 of members 2, 3, 4 and 5.

In accordance with a characteristic of the present invention, the top member 4 is provided with a slot 9 extending over the major part of the length of said member 4- and terminating in alignment with the bottoms of lateral grooves 10 which are made in the side members 2 and 3 and extend over the entire length of said side members. The slot 9 and the lateral grooves 10 are disposed in a common plane immediately forward of the front face of the writing panel 7.

The lower horizontal member 5 of the frame 1 is also provided over its entire length with a slot 11 the 2,971,277 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 ice ends of which are in communication with and in the same plane as the grooves 10. The slot 11 is slightly inclined towards the rear of the blackboard and opens into a cylindrical bore 12 made within the horizontal lower member 5 and opening at the exterior of at least side member 2 of the frame 1. A tube 13, preferably made of plastic or other like material, is removably inserted within bore 12. Tube 13 has a longitudinal slot 14 adapted to register with slot 11 of member 5. The slit tube 13 can be removed from bore 12 as illustrated in Figure 2.

Side 3 is provided with hinges 15, preferably of the spring type, which are adapted to be secured to a wall so that the blackboard can pivot in a horizontal plane, the spring of the hinges urging the blackboard against the wall. A shelf 16, of L-shape cross-section, is mounted at the back of the blackboard and serves to retain brushes C. A double shelf 17, the top member of which is provided with spaced holes 18, servm to support chalks A.

When the blackboard is not in use, an image B of suitable dimensions is inserted through slot 9 and grooves 10 until its forward edge enters slot 11 in order to completely cover and conceal the writing panel 7. Under these conditions the blackboard forms a decorative panel.

The image B is maintained in position because its lower edge rests on transverse rods or pins 19 which prevent the image from falling into tube 13.

To use the blackboard, the image B is removed. During writing with chalk, all the chalk powder and other particles or at least the majority of the same pass through the slot 11 opening adjacent the writing surface at the lower part thereof, and said chalk dust is collected within tube 13. When the collecting tube 13 is full it can easily be removed from the blackboard and emptied. As the major portion of the chalk powder or dust is collected, it is easier for the housewife to maintain the floor in clean condition.

Image B can be coated with a transparent layer in order to increase its life.

Preferably, hinges 15 are fitted in depressions or notches made in the side member 3 and also preferably in the wall to which the hinges are secured so that when the frame 1 is applied against the wall and the image is in position, the blackboard gives the impression of a true decorative frame or panel.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A blackboard comprising a frame having top, bottom and side members, a writing panel secured within said frame, said frame having a first slot made through said top member of said frame, a second slot made within the lower member of said frame, and grooves made in said side members and in communication with the ends of said first and second slots, said slots and grooves being disposed in a common plane immediately forwardly of said writing panel, said lower member having a bore communicating with said second slot and opening at one side of said frame, said slots and grooves being adapted for receiving an image for concealing the writing panel, a slit tube removably inserted Within said bore for collecting through said second slot chalk dust and other substances produced when writing on the blackboard,

means secured to the back of said writing panel for stora a r r a 2,971,277

3 p a ing brushes, chalks and other objects, and means for References Cited in the file of this patent supporting the blackboard in a writing position. V

2. A blackboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said UNITED STATES PATENTS means for supporting said blackboard comprises spring 179,362 Slade June 1876 hinges for pivotally securing the blackboard to a wall. 5 333,483 Stewart 1885 3. A blackboard as claimed in claim 1, further in- 641,683 Evans 1900 eluding pins disposed transversely of said second slot 1,175,285 Moore 1916 and forming abutment means for retaining said image in 2872744 1959 position in front of the writing panel and out of said 2,881,538 Lewls e--.-\--s--: Apr. 14, 1959 bore and slit tube. 10 V 

